Ecce Rat

Statement

Rats play important roles in our lives both as reflections of the best within us and also as symbols of fear and disgust. They have lived alongside us for thousands of years and seamlessly adapted to our environments. Like us, they are intelligent social creatures capable of empathetic and selfless behaviors; in psychological experiments, they sacrifice substantial rewards to allay the fear and suffering of their fellow rat. Because they have evolved alongside of us for generations, they also carry and transmit human diseases. These characteristics make them an ideal model for biological and social experiments designed to improve our lives, and these experiments have provided us with untold benefits. However, because rats carry potentially devastating diseases, most of us see them as menacing, disease-ridden vermin, and they are symbols of fear and disdain, all too human emotions that we often arouse in each other. Evoking the best and worst of us and within us, rats become symbols of both the sacred and the profane.

In my current work, rats are used as stand-ins for humans in common religious imagery. In this imagery, Jesus sacrificed himself to give us everlasting life, likewise in my imagery as rats are sacrificed to give us longer, heathier lives. Martyrs, once reviled are now saints. Rat seraphs sing the praises of the risen lord and his martyrs. With this work, I ask the viewer to reflect on the similarities between us and rats and to use them to help us understand what we value and revile in one another.

the rapture

22”x34” Serigraph, 2018, $1800

Vitam Aeternam (central panel)

15"x21" Serigraphy with gold metal leaf, 2017, $1800 (Sold)

Crucifixion

22”x29” Serigraphy, 2018, $1800

Agony in the garden

22”x29” Serigraph, 2018, $600

Two Saints

15”x21” Serigraphy with gold metal leaf, $600

Rat Work

22”x29” Serigraph, 2018, $1200

Falling Cat and Rat

22”x29” Serigraph, 2018, $600

Untitled

22”14” Serigraph, 2018, $300

Two Rats

11”x14” Serigraph, 2018, $200

Rat Poison Bottle

11”x14” Serigraph, 2018, $300

The Three Ages of Rat

15"x21" Serigraphy with gold metal leaf, 2017, $900

Holy Spirit (version 1)

15”x21” Serigraph, 2018

Untitled

11”x14” Serigraph, 2018, $150

Biohazard

11”x14” Serigraphy, 2018, $200

Cherub

22”x29” Serigraph, 2018, $300

Golden Half Rat

4.5"x7" Serigraphy, 2017, $100

Sacrifice

8.75"x15.25" Serigraphy and gold metal leaf, 2017

Seraphim (left panel)

7.5"x21" serigraphy with gold metal leaf, 2017

Reliquary of St Rattus and St Norvegicus, martyrs (right panel)

7.5"x21" Serigraphy with gold metal leaf, 2017

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Statement

Like us, rats are intelligent social creatures capable of empathetic and selfless behaviors; in psychological experiments, they sacrifice highly-valued rewards to allay the fear and suffering of their fellow rat. Because they have evolved alongside of us for thousands of years, they also carry and transmit human diseases. These characteristics make them an ideal model for biological and social experiments designed to improve our lives, but also make them symbols of fear and disdain. Reflecting the best and worst of us and within us, rats become symbols of both the sacred and the profane. With this work, I ask the viewer to reflect on the similarities between us and rats and to use them to help us understand what we value and revile in one another.